22 - Cruise the Upper Mekong on a luxury river boat
Glide through the sublime scenery of the serene waterways.
Watch Laos glide by...
The upper Mekong slowly meanders through the captivating landscape of Laos, where local life remains unchanged for centuries. This is a Laotian cruising experience filled with spectacular backdrops, untouched riverside villages, ethnic tribes and local culture.
Until recently, there weren’t any overnight river cruises at all, and even now you can sometimes sail for hours without seeing another boat. Cruising up here is an amazing way to see some of the most inaccessible parts of the country, scrambling up muddy banks or climbing steep bamboo staircases to tiny hamlets of tin-roofed houses.
And this cruise is not on any old boat. Picture a small, boutique luxury ship that seamlessly blends traditional Laotian and French-Colonial styles. You’ll watch the steep-sided limestone mountains cloaked in green foliage and most beautiful, remote areas of Laos slide by along the meandering river in utmost luxury. There is an intimate restaurant, the spa offers massages, reflexology and facial treatments.
The short cruise slowly wanders through the Golden Triangle, connecting northern Thailand with Luang Prabang. The longer cruises extend this journey to Vientiane.
“The places we stopped off at were some of the most remote I’ve ever visited in my life, with no running water or electricity. We had no cell reception for three days; you don’t get to experience that very often, in Laos or anywhere.”
Grant - InsideAsia team
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Luang Prabang Luang Prabang is Laos’ Shangri-La: sweeping golden roofs and colonial shophouses against a lush backdrop of jungle-covered mountains, and a laid-back atmosphere of peace and serenity.
Vientiane
It may be Laos’s most fast-paced city, but Vientiane is still the smallest and most laid-back capital in Southeast Asia.
Can't do August?
With no coastline, Laos has a simple climate. There are just two distinct seasons which are experienced at roughly the same time throughout the country: wet (May to September) and dry (October to April). This specific cruise doesn't operate in May and June.
At all times of year, highland areas are noticeably cooler than lowland – and you will need something warm to wear in the evenings and early morning.
Where in the world is the Upper Mekong?
Cruises run from Huay Xai to Luang Phuabang or further to Vientiane and can be taken in either direction.
20 – Make kimchi with a Buddhist monk
Take part in cooking up a veggie feast at Baekyangsa temple.
South of Seoul, in Korea's scenic Naejangsan National Park, you'll find Baekyangsa temple - considered by many to be the cradle of modern Korean Buddhism.
As well as the tenets of Buddhism, though, you'll find something else at Baekyangsa temple: a female monk who become one of Asia's most revered chefs.
Famously written about in the New York Times by food journalists, Jeong Kwan has also had an entire episode of the popular Netflix series, “Chef’s Table” devoted to her - and was the recipient of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Icon Award in 2022.
She lives in the Chunjinam Hermitage at the temple, cooking for fellow monks and, if you're extremely lucky, occasional visitors.
We visited in late autumn, during kimjang (kimchi making season), and spent an afternoon listening to Jeong Kwan share her thoughts on veganism, healthy eating, and the secret to a long life - all while brining cabbage and wrapping it up tightly for next year.
Even if you don't manage to bag a slot with the Korean queen of cuisine, though, Baekyangsa’s Templestay Programme is still well worth a visit. You'll take part in a walking meditation through the forest, using all five senses to discover your 'true self', as well as drink tea and chat with the monks.
A truly special experience - and a well-earned, mindful break from the intensity of modern life.
"I really felt like I was taking part in something integrally Korean, a practice families have been doing together for generations. Guided by monk Jeong Kwon we all got stuck in, kimchi paste up to our elbows, and all with a backdrop of the mountains of Naejangsan national park."
Rebecca - InsideAsia team
Where in the world is Baekyangsa?
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Seoul Spend a week in Seoul, and you’ll most likely come away feeling that you’ve barely scratched the surface – this hyperactive, endlessly beguiling megalopolis somehow feels uber-cool, hyper-modern, charmingly traditional and historically fascinating, all at the same time.
Read more Bukhansan National Park Swathed in a blanket of pine trees and dotted with secluded temples, Bukhansan National Park rears up behind Seoul like a jagged granite crown. Its myriad peaks will allow you to pick your level of exertion quite precisely – anything from a gentle forest stroll to an exhilarating pant to the top.
Can't do August?
Korea has four distinct seasons: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), autumn (September-November) and winter (December-February). Most people visit in spring or autumn, when temperatures are great. Summer is very hot and humid, while winter is very, very cold - although if you love snow, illuminations and winter festivals, it's brilliant.
24 - Spend the night at an elephant sanctuary
Wake up to the happy trumpeting of Thailand's gentle giants.
It's not easy to bag a stay here, but it's worth trying
Deep in the Khao Sok National Park, surrounded by towering limestone mountains and virgin jungle, is Elephant Hills: part nature park, part wildlife sanctuary, and part luxury eco-lodge.
This national park is part of a 5,000-square-kilometre swathe of protected forest thought to be one of the oldest on earth — about three times as old as the Amazon — and one of the last surviving habitats in the world for wild elephants, Malayan tapirs, Asian black bears and clouded leopards.
Elephant Hills has two separate accommodations: the Elephant Camp and the Lake Camp, and it's possible to combine the two in a multi-day and night experience.
At the Elephant Camp, there's a whole menu of amazing experiences to get stuck into, including meeting the elephants who call this paradise home, taking a canoe safari down the river, and watching traditional Thai dances before spending the night in your luxury glamping tent.
The Lake Camp is set on the Cheow Lan Lake, with dramatic, densely forested islands towering steeply from its vivid green waters. There, you can ride in a traditional longtail boat or trek through the unique rainforest environment.
Elephant Hills is committed to the welfare of these gentle giants — all contact will be made behind a barrier and will be supervised. You’ll be able to meet, touch, feed and interact with them, but only if they come to you (contact must be non-human initiated). This is one the best wildlife experiences in Southeast Asia.
"InsideAsia was amazing to work with, taking into consideration my love of travel, adventure and, most importantly, my love of animals, especially elephants"
Kc R - InsideAsia customer 2023
Where in the world is Elephant Hills?
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Khao Lak
Khao Lak’s beaches are straight out of central casting: pearlescent white sand, deep blue skies, and rustling palm trees leaning out towards glittering, turquoise seas.
Krabi
Krabi’s coastline is the stuff travel dreams are made of. Emerald vegetation clings to dramatic, gravity-defying cliffs, towering limestone pinnacles teeter precariously over the sea, and hundreds of little islands lie waiting to be explored.
Can't do August?
Khao Sok rainforest is one of Thailand’s wettest places, with about 3,500 millimeters of rain a year. That means it can be rain or sun at any time of the year! It also means Elephant Hills is geared up for wet weather activities and it won't put a dampener on your stay. The official monsoon season here is May to October.